Biology Unit 4 IP - Research Paper Example

Cigarette Smoking of the of the Cigarette Smoking What main components in cigarettes affect the respiratory system? Explain their effects on specific organs, cells and/or processes in the respiratory system.Several of the constituents of the gaseous phase of smoking cause severe damage to the respiratory tract. For instance, carbon monoxide binds itself to a much greater degree than oxygen to hemoglobin. As a result, less oxygen is carried by the blood. Some of the other components of this phase are Acrolein, Ammonia, Acetone, Benzene, Hydrogen, Methane, Nitrogen, and phenol Formaldehyde (Robinson & Scullion, 2009, p. 544). There is a loss of cilia and the mucus glands undergo hypertrophy in the upper airways.

In addition, there is inflammation, epithelial changes, fibrosis and secretory congestion in the peripheral airways. Moreover, alveoli are destroyed due to the destruction of gas exchange surface area and airway flexibility. Furthermore, vascular changes take place in the small arteries and capillaries of the alveoli and bronchioles. Additionally, the cells of the bronchial tree undergo inflammation, which results in squamous metaplasia, fibrosis and hypertrophy of smooth muscle (Robinson & Scullion, 2009, p. 545).There are alternate mechanisms of transporting carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2 ) in the blood.

Explain how smoking might lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.Air that has been infused with oxygen is drawn into the lungs during the inhalation stage of respiration, and then it reaches the alveoli. At that place, blood with high carbon dioxide content, which has coursed through the body comes into contact with the oxygen enriched air. This takes place in the capillaries that enclose each alveolus. At that place, oxygen in the air is exchanged with the carbon dioxide in the blood (Brannon & Feist, 2009, p. 309). Smoking causes emphysema, which damages the alveoli to the extent that the surface area for the aforementioned exchange of oxygen from the inhaled air and the carbon dioxide in the blood that has circulated through the body, is substantially reduced.

Moreover, this damage prevents the flow of sufficient blood to the unaffected alveoli. The outcome is an impaired respiratory mechanism, which in turn increases the carbon dioxide levels in the blood (Brannon & Feist, 2009, p. 311).Can smoking affect other organ systems of the body? Give specific examples and briefly explain your answer.The risk of pneumonia and other acute respiratory ailments are significantly enhanced by smoking (Duaso & Duncan, 2012, p. 356). Smoking has been identified as the single most important cause for cardiovascular disease.

It is now well established that smoking significantly increases the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and stroke (Duaso & Duncan, 2012, p. 358). The most common association of cigarette smoking is lung cancer, and as much as 90% of the incidence of lung cancer has been correlated to smoking. In addition, evidence has been forthcoming that smoking also causes cancer of the larynx, pharynx, paranasal sinuses, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, oral cavity, kidney, uterus, cervix, colon, rectum, bladder and ureter.

Furthermore, smoking increases the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, stillbirth, respiratory problems, long term complications, sudden infant death, and premature birth (Duaso & Duncan, 2012, p. 358).How can you correlate cellular respiration with the respiratory system?Does smokeless tobacco present a reduced risk for lung cancer and other smoking associated diseases? Provide evidence for your answer. Cellular respiration is a process that entails the use of oxygen by the cells to release energy.

In this process glucose derived from food sources undergoes glycolysis by the cells. Glucose also undergoes the Krebs cycle and changes into adenosine triphosphate. The latter is a nucleotide that can transport energy throughout cells. Subsequently, adenosine triphosphate gets transformed into energy by means of electron transport phosphorylation. This energy can be utilized by enzymes and proteins, and for certain functions of the cells, such as cell division (Parkes, 2011, p. 15). The process of respiration carries oxygen to the tissues.

This oxygen is indispensable for cellular respiration. This process is also termed as oxidative metabolism and consists of some chemical reactions. Oxygen is an essential component of many of these chemical reactions. Furthermore, these reactions enable the body to transform substances into energy that can be used. Sugar is converted into ATP or adenosine triphosphate by the reactions that transpire in the cells. Oxygen is essential for cellular respiration, due to the fact that several of the redox reactions take place throughout the process of respiration (Conjecture Corporation, 2013).

Some examples of smokeless tobacco products are dry and moist snuff, which is inhaled; and chewing tobacco. These varieties of tobacco can increase the risk of a fatal stroke or fatal heart attack. They can also enhance the danger of cancer. This disquieting information was disclosed in the Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. It is the considered opinion of Piano and other eminent health researchers that no tobacco produce is safe to consume (Benowitz, et al., 2010).In the present case, Amos was affected by lung cancer at stage 3, due to several years of smoking.

Cancer had metastasized to Lymph nodes when it was detected. Due to smoking, the alveoli in his lungs had been destroyed due to the loss of the surface area of gas exchange and airway flexibility. In addition to treatment he has to stop smoking immediately, to reduce the bad effects caused through inhalation of cigarette smoke and its poisonous components, in the past. As such, Oxygen intake will improve the situation if he ceases to smoke. This will ensure that his condition does not deteriorate after the treatment.

List of ReferencesBenowitz, N. L., FitzGerald, G. A., Corbridge, S., Heath, J., Hahn, E., Pechacek, T. F., & Howard, G. (2010, September 14). Smokeless Tobacco Products Not a Safe Option, Wont Help Smokers Quit, Analysis Finds. Retrieved February 2, 2013, from Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100913162321.htmBrannon, L., & Feist, J. (2009). Health Psychology: An Introduction to Behavior and Health. Belmont, CA, USA: Cengage.Conjecture Corporation. (2013). What is Respiration?

Retrieved February 2, 2013, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-respiration.htmDuaso, M. J., & Duncan, D. (2012). Health impact of smoking and smoking cessation strategies: current evidence. British Journal of Community Nursing, 17(8), 356 – 363.Parkes, R. (2011). Rate of Respiration: The Forgotten Vital Sign. Emergency Nurse, 19(2), 12 – 18.Robinson, T., & Scullion, J. E. (2009). Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Nursing. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.